{"id":16487,"date":"2020-08-24T12:31:15","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T11:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.kellytillage.com\/?p=9934"},"modified":"2022-05-30T11:45:45","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T11:45:45","slug":"improving-soil-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kellytillage.com\/eu\/improving-soil-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Soil Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Improving Soil Health<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Understanding the Kelly Tillage System<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kelly Tillage System Case Study<\/strong>
Farmer:<\/strong> Bernd Richter, Eastern Germany
Farm size:<\/strong> approx. 150ha, sand to loam soils
Crops grown:<\/strong> peas, canola, wheat, barley, rye
Kelly model:<\/strong> 6m with CL1 disc chain<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>

Written by Hamish Kelly<\/a><\/h3>

Contact Hamish to organise your own Kelly Case Study.\n

hamish@kellyengineering.com.au<\/a>
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Rolling Hills, Fertile Soil<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u2018Sustainable agriculture\u2019 may feel like an overused buzzword, but improving soil health now and for future generations is something that\u2019s at the forefront of every farmer\u2019s mind. Combating herbicide resistance and soil erosion, increasing moisture retention and reducing leaching of nitrates\/fertilisers are all challenges that need to be overcome. With this in mind, we talked to German farmer Bernd Richter about the role that sustainability plays on his farm.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Photo: The Kelly Tillage System<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mr. Richter works around 150 ha of land in Upper Lusatia, an area characterised by rolling hills and fertile soil. His farm grows peas and canola at 3 to 4t\/ha, with winter crops including wheat, barley and rye grown at 5 to 8t\/ha. Soils range from sand to loam and are sometimes stony, with the land having a German ground point range that varies between 25 – 60. Ground points, or bodenpunkte, are a numerical value between 1-100 that is used to indicate the quality of arable land: soil with 100 ground points is considered optimal for planting, while soil with below 20 points is unsuitable for crop production and won\u2019t turn a profit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tThe more you try [using the Kelly harrow], the more possibilities\nopen up.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBernd Richter<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A range of monocot and dicot weeds grow on the farm, including burdock, cornflower, poppy, knotweed and field pansy, with couch grass and thistle causing occasional problems. Though herbicides are used for weed control, Richter makes an effort to minimise chemical applications as much as possible; glyphosate is used sparingly for select patches of couch grass and thistle. More and more, Richter is turning to mechanical weed control as an alternative to herbicide use. Both ploughing and non-ploughing tillage are practiced on the Richter farm, depending on the crop.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tWhen asked about his experiences with sustainable farming practices, Richter cites moisture retention as his number one challenge.

\n\u201cIt\u2019s really the water,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat we try to do is hold it inside the ground. Since we got a Kelly harrow we stopped working deep during the hot and dry months.\u201d \t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Choosing Kelly<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Richter purchased a 6m Kelly Tillage System fitted with CL1 Disc Chain in 2015, aiming to use it for fast and easy stubble cultivation and activating weed seeds post-harvest without burying them. \u201cWe are a relatively young farm,\u201d he says. \u201cBefore [owning the Kelly harrow] I borrowed different machines and tried 2-, 3- and 4-row cultivators and several conventional disc harrows. Almost nobody in my area knew the Kelly system. Then I saw a Kelly while working at my friend\u2019s farm and decided to buy a 6m model for our farm.\u201d<\/p>

The Kelly harrow is now used for a wide range of purposes on the Richter farm, including controlling weeds and cover crops, preparing a seedbed in tougher conditions and managing stubble (especially canola stubble). Richter feels that the CL1 Disc Chain is best suited to dry and normal conditions in soil that isn\u2019t too heavy. He has also been trialing rear-fitted Spiked Disc Chain in combination with the front CL1, and feels that the Spiked Discs are ideal for better aeration of the soil and for creating a seedbed that isn\u2019t too fine.<\/p>

\u201cWe trialed a lot for ourselves, learning by doing,\u201d says Richter. \u201cThat was a good experience for us to see and learn what it [the Kelly harrow] is good for and what it\u2019s not good for. A few weeks ago we gave it a try on grassland. Wild boars did a lot of damage there. It was a success: the holes got levelled better than with other machines and the land was ready to be re-cultivated.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThe more you try, the more possibilities open up. But to be honest, you have to know what kind of job it\u2019s not made for,\u201d admits Richter. \u201cEspecially if you expect a clean field without any residue on the surface after one pass.\u201d Richter uses a 140 HP John Deere 6830 tractor to pull his 6m Kelly harrow. In favourable conditions his neighbour was able to pull the machine with a smaller 125 HP tractor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fuel, Labour and Maintenance<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Kelly Tillage System has increased overall productivity on the Richter farm.<\/p>

Richter\u2019s Kelly harrow uses around 3 litres of fuel per hectare, half as much as the cultivator that he used previously. With a 12-14km\/h working speed, the Kelly covers 6-8 hectares every hour. As a direct result of the higher working speed and lower fuel and labour expenses, Richter is now able to make two passes across the field where he previously made one, at the same cost. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Photo: The Richter Family<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Photo: Spiked Disc Chain<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tThere\u2019s less wear and tear than on a usual disc harrow or a cultivator.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBernd Richter<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Richter\u2019s maintenance costs are also dramatically lower with the Kelly harrow than they were for the cultivator.<\/p>

\u201cNot much maintenance is needed,\u201d he admits. \u201cOnce a day greasing and looking over the machine, and that\u2019s it. There\u2019s less wear and tear than on a usual disc harrow or a cultivator.\u201d<\/p>

Richter uses the Kelly harrow for mechanical weed control. He notes that weed pressure on his farm has reduced significantly since he purchased the Kelly, and he is now beginning to reduce his herbicide use accordingly.<\/p>

\u201cI try to place the Kelly as the centre of the mechanical weed control part of our farm,\u201d says Richter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Surprising Results<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bernd Richter\u2019s Kelly Tillage System has had two unexpected, additional benefits.<\/p>

By working only the top few centimetres of the field it causes surface-level soil to warm and dry faster, allowing for earlier planting. \u201cFor three years we\u2019ve used it on an autumn ploughed field one or two days before seeding peas in spring,\u201d describes Richter. \u201cSoil isn\u2019t processed too deep. Only the capillary is broken, so there\u2019s no evaporation. The top layer of soil is drying and warming faster, but the deeper water is kept there.\u201d The resultant conditions have been perfect for planting peas, which require a lot of water to germinate. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tSoil isn\u2019t processed too deep. Only the capillary is broken, so there\u2019s no evaporation.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBernd Richter<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The second surprise benefit that Richter mentions is a result of the level seedbed that the Kelly harrow creates for planting. Having flat and even fields has allowed planters and drills to work at higher speeds, increasing productivity and reducing planting losses. \u201cThe driver of the harvester praised our flat, bump-free surface,\u201d says Richter. Having a smoother seedbed also led to improvements in crop establishment, causing Richter\u2019s pea crop to grow more evenly.<\/p>

Overall, Bernd Richter feels that the Kelly Tillage System is a vital part of his sustainable agriculture practices, and strongly recommends the tool for other farmers. \u201cIt [the Kelly harrow] is an inherent part of our farm,\u201d says Richter. \u201cSeriously, I think it\u2019s a one of a kind machine.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bernd Richter on Sustainable Agriculture<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cWe try to move towards sustainability more and more. We think it is necessary! We see and feel the impact of a changing climate every year a bit more. Not every farmer is ready to reflect on his actions and what happens to his environment depending on how he does his work.

\u201cWater is the limiting factor. We have to face that and focus our actions on saving water, and not only by stopping needless evaporation. We have to take care of the water quality too, especially with regards to high organic fertilisation (nitrates, phosphates).

\u201cWe reduce the usage of pesticides and fertilisers, do more conservation tillage, focus on shading the soil (no blank ground), do less deep work because of the deep drying in and after summer, and try to move towards a circular economy. We take only self produced food for our animals, and give the manure back to the place where we took the straw away.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Farming for the Future<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sustainable farming methods on the Richter farm are beginning to bear fruit:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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